San Jose Sharkshttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/taxonomy/term/201/all
enBudding NHL Star Wingels Proud Of His RedHawks Roots http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2014-08/budding-nhl-star-wingels-proud-his-redhawks-roots
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/ryan-satkowiak">Ryan Satkowiak</a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/FL_Wingels.img_assist_custom-200x357.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-200x357 " width="200" height="357" /></span>When kids reach a certain age they tend to forget things about their childhood, like the details of a hockey tournament they played in when they were 12 years old.</p>
<p>Tommy Wingels falls into this category, sort of. In 2001, he suited up for Team Illinois at the USA Hockey Tier I 12 &amp; Under National Championship tournament.</p>
<p>But while he may not remember the specifics of the event, held in Philadelphia, a couple of his competitors still stand out: Carter Camper of the Cleveland Jr. Barons and Andy Miele of Detroit&rsquo;s Little Caesars.</p>
<p>Six years after that tournament, Wingels reunited with his former foes, but this time as part of a freshman class that helped elevate the Miami University RedHawks to one of the elite programs in college hockey.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Looking back on it now, we had a lot of laughs about how we grew up near the same rinks, and that we got to play against each other and then play together,&rdquo; Wingels recalled.</p>
<p>From 2007-10, the three were key cogs for a RedHawks team that won 85 games and made three NCCA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Frozen Four.</p>
<p>While Wingels may have lacked the offensive firepower of the other two, he more than made up for it with his leadership, durability and two-way play. He still posted 99 points during the course of his three seasons at Miami and never missed a game.</p>
<p>That tenacity on the ice made him an attractive pro prospect, and the San Jose Sharks nabbed him in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft following his freshman season.</p>
<p>While some within the hockey community make the argument that Canadian Major Junior hockey is the best road for a player to develop his game, Wingels isn&rsquo;t convinced. He credits &ldquo;the USA Hockey model,&rdquo; going through AAA hockey to the USHL to college, for making him the player and person he is today.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been very fortunate to continue to extend through a different league, and it&rsquo;s a credit to those leagues throughout the United States,&rdquo; said the 26-year-old Evanston, Ill., native.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I think USA Hockey does an unbelievable job of prepping kids for the NHL, and I&rsquo;m a prime example of that.&rdquo;</p>
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<p><strong>Position:</strong> Center</p>
<p><strong>Shoots:</strong> Right</p>
<p><strong>Height:</strong> 6-foot-0</p>
<p><strong>Weight:</strong> 200 pounds</p>
<p><strong>Birth Date:</strong> April 12, 1988</p>
<p><strong>Hometown: </strong>Evanston, Ill.</p>
<p><strong>Junior Hockey:</strong> Cedar Rapids Roughriders (USHL)</p>
<p><strong>Drafted:</strong> 6th round, 177th overall in 2008 NHL Entry Draft by San Jose</p>
<p><strong>College:</strong> Miami University</p>
<p><strong>USA Hockey History: </strong>Participated in USA Hockey Boys&rsquo; Select 15 Camp in 2003 and the Boys&rsquo; Select 16 Camp in 2004.</p>
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<p>Wingels&rsquo; decision to turn pro after his junior year was delayed due to Miami&rsquo;s late run in the NCAA Tournament, leaving him the summer to mentally and physically prepare for the next level.</p>
<p>After honing his game in the American Hockey League, Wingels cracked the Sharks lineup in the middle of the 2011-12 season and hasn&rsquo;t looked back.</p>
<p>&ldquo;For me, every level I played at, as I become more confident and experienced, my game has continued to evolve,&rdquo; said Wingels, who set career highs this season with 16 goals, 22 assists and 38 points.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Even now I&rsquo;m learning more and more every game and trying to contribute on a nightly basis.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Away from the ice, Wingels remains connected to Miami and honors his friend Brendan Burke by serving on the advisory board for You Can Play, an organization dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports. It was founded in memory of Burke, who was killed in a 2010 car crash shortly after coming out as gay.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve become a lot more outspoken on the issue, knowing Brendan and what happened,&rdquo; said Wingels, who was nominated for the King Clancy Trophy for his community involvement.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He and I had a great friendship, and when you see somebody with the passion and drive to help conquer an issue like this &hellip; I try to do what I can to raise awareness. The You Can Play initiative is a great thing. I&rsquo;ve been blown away by the support it&rsquo;s received from the League and players.&rdquo;</p>
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<h3><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/YS_GavinNatasha.img_assist_custom-158x141.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-158x141 " width="158" height="141" /></span>Youth Star<br /></h3>
<p><strong>Gavin Lee<br />Age: 9<br />Farr West, Utah &nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Selflessness is a rare quality these days, let alone for someone who is just 9 years old. Yet there is at least one shining example of a youngster who has demonstrated a genuine act of kindness for others to follow.</p>
<p>This past spring, the Golden Spike Amateur Hockey Association held its year-end banquet for house teams competing in the Squirt Division. When the White team head coach, Jack Lee, announced his son, Gavin, as the recipient for the Sportsmanship Award, the audience offered up a nice round of applause in honor of a worthy recipient. What happened next stunned family, friends and teammates.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t deserve this award. I think my teammate Natasha [Knap] deserves this award,&rdquo; Sue Knap recounted Gavin as saying.</p>
<p>As Gavin passed the award to Natasha, the silenced attendees, including Gavin&rsquo;s father, realized that sometimes the most important assists in life are the ones made away from the ice. <strong></strong></p>
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<h6><em>Photos courtesy of Getty Images; the Lee Family</em><strong><br /></strong></h6>
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Issue:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/issue/2014-08">2014-08</a> </div>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2014-08/budding-nhl-star-wingels-proud-his-redhawks-roots#commentsNHLRedhawksSan Jose SharksTommy WingelsFirst LinersWed, 13 Aug 2014 18:50:30 +0000admin10288 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comBudding NHL Star Wingels Proud Of His RedHawks Roots http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/budding-nhl-star-wingels-proud-his-redhawks-roots
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/ryan-satkowiak">Ryan Satkowiak</a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/FL_Wingels.img_assist_custom-200x357.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-200x357 " width="200" height="357" /></span>When kids reach a certain age they tend to forget things about their childhood, like the details of a hockey tournament they played in when they were 12 years old.</p>
<p>Tommy Wingels falls into this category, sort of. In 2001, he suited up for Team Illinois at the USA Hockey Tier I 12 &amp; Under National Championship tournament.</p>
<p>But while he may not remember the specifics of the event, held in Philadelphia, a couple of his competitors still stand out: Carter Camper of the Cleveland Jr. Barons and Andy Miele of Detroit&rsquo;s Little Caesars.</p>
<p>Six years after that tournament, Wingels reunited with his former foes, but this time as part of a freshman class that helped elevate the Miami University RedHawks to one of the elite programs in college hockey.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Looking back on it now, we had a lot of laughs about how we grew up near the same rinks, and that we got to play against each other and then play together,&rdquo; Wingels recalled.</p>
<p>From 2007-10, the three were key cogs for a RedHawks team that won 85 games and made three NCCA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Frozen Four.</p>
<p>While Wingels may have lacked the offensive firepower of the other two, he more than made up for it with his leadership, durability and two-way play. He still posted 99 points during the course of his three seasons at Miami and never missed a game.</p>
<p>That tenacity on the ice made him an attractive pro prospect, and the San Jose Sharks nabbed him in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft following his freshman season.</p>
<p>While some within the hockey community make the argument that Canadian Major Junior hockey is the best road for a player to develop his game, Wingels isn&rsquo;t convinced. He credits &ldquo;the USA Hockey model,&rdquo; going through AAA hockey to the USHL to college, for making him the player and person he is today.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been very fortunate to continue to extend through a different league, and it&rsquo;s a credit to those leagues throughout the United States,&rdquo; said the 26-year-old Evanston, Ill., native.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I think USA Hockey does an unbelievable job of prepping kids for the NHL, and I&rsquo;m a prime example of that.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Wingels&rsquo; decision to turn pro after his junior year was delayed due to Miami&rsquo;s late run in the NCAA Tournament, leaving him the summer to mentally and physically prepare for the next level.</p>
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<h3 class="feature_headline_smaller"><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/FL_Wingels2.img_assist_custom-125x187.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-125x187 " width="125" height="187" /></span><br /></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Position:</strong> Center</p>
<p><strong>Shoots:</strong> Right</p>
<p><strong>Height:</strong> 6-foot-0</p>
<p><strong>Weight:</strong> 200 pounds</p>
<p><strong>Birth Date:</strong> April 12, 1988</p>
<p><strong>Hometown: </strong>Evanston, Ill.</p>
<p><strong>Junior Hockey:</strong> Cedar Rapids Roughriders (USHL)</p>
<p><strong>Drafted:</strong> 6th round, 177th overall in 2008 NHL Entry Draft by San Jose</p>
<p><strong>College:</strong> Miami University</p>
<p><strong>USA Hockey History: </strong>Participated in USA Hockey Boys&rsquo; Select 15 Camp in 2003 and the Boys&rsquo; Select 16 Camp in 2004.</p>
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<p>After honing his game in the American Hockey League, Wingels cracked the Sharks lineup in the middle of the 2011-12 season and hasn&rsquo;t looked back.</p>
<p>&ldquo;For me, every level I played at, as I become more confident and experienced, my game has continued to evolve,&rdquo; said Wingels, who set career highs this season with 16 goals, 22 assists and 38 points.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Even now I&rsquo;m learning more and more every game and trying to contribute on a nightly basis.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Away from the ice, Wingels remains connected to Miami and honors his friend Brendan Burke by serving on the advisory board for You Can Play, an organization dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports. It was founded in memory of Burke, who was killed in a 2010 car crash shortly after coming out as gay.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve become a lot more outspoken on the issue, knowing Brendan and what happened,&rdquo; said Wingels, who was nominated for the King Clancy Trophy for his community involvement.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He and I had a great friendship, and when you see somebody with the passion and drive to help conquer an issue like this &hellip; I try to do what I can to raise awareness. The You Can Play initiative is a great thing. I&rsquo;ve been blown away by the support it&rsquo;s received from the League and players.&rdquo;</p>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/budding-nhl-star-wingels-proud-his-redhawks-roots#commentsNHLRedhawksSan Jose SharksTommy WingelsFirst LinersWed, 13 Aug 2014 18:46:45 +0000admin10286 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comThe Way To San Jose: Jeremy Roenickhttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-01/way-san-jose-jeremy-roenick
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Jeremy Roenick Enjoys A Season of Rebirth, Records And Cheerleading </div>
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/lindsey-boone">Lindsey Boone </a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/feat_Roenick1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="230" height="346" /></span>Jeremy Roenick spent much of the summer coming to grips with the realization that his career as a professional hockey player was over. That was, until he received a phone call from friend and ex-teammate Doug Wilson.</p>
<p>Wilson, the executive vice president and general manager of the San Jose Sharks, called with an offer that Roenick just couldn&rsquo;t refuse.</p>
<p>&ldquo;When someone shows the respect and confidence in you to ask you to play for them, especially when nobody else seems to want to take a chance on you, you get excited, especially with the level of team that we have here,&rdquo; Roenick says of the phone call that breathed new life into his 19-year career.</p>
<p>That excitement reached a new level on Nov. 10, when Roenick fired a dump-in shot from outside the blue line that took a strange carom off the boards and past Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Alex Auld to score a goal that even he calls &ldquo;one of the luckiest without question&rdquo; of his career. </p>
<p>But as luck would have it, it would propel the Boston native into the lofty status as the third American-born hockey player to score 500 goals. </p>
<p>Roenick celebrated by hoisting his son, Brett, onto his shoulders and taking to the ice to share the moment with San Jose fans. It was an experience that was &ldquo;extremely, extremely special [and something that] I will never forget.&rdquo;</p>
<p>During his milestone march, Roenick and his coaches tried to not focus on the statistic. While they figured he would plug away and eventually reach the mark, nobody expected him to do it so quickly. </p>
<p>For the first time in his career, Roenick is not being called on to carry the offensive load, but rather play smart, disciplined hockey. </p>
<p>&ldquo;We were really up front with him about our expectations. His role on the team is as a leader and someone to bring experience to a young team,&rdquo; says Sharks head coach Ron Wilson.<br />So far it&rsquo;s been a different Roenick, both on and off the ice. In the past few seasons in Phoenix and Los Angeles, the colorful JR has made more noise with his off-ice antics than with his on-ice actions. Wilson made it clear that things would have to be different in San Jose.</p>
<p>&ldquo;You have been a caricature of yourself the last couple of years,&rdquo; Wilson told JR. &ldquo;He appreciated that we showed him the respect to offer him a slot on the team after a bad couple years. He has a new lease on life.&rdquo;</p>
<p>That new lease is what has re-energized JR and propelled him to second in team scoring early on behind superstar Joe Thornton.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I can go to the rink and be a cheerleader. Be a guy that brings some energy and some experience for some of the young guys and just be one of 25 guys,&rdquo; says Roenick, who turns 38 on Jan. 18. </p>
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/feat_Roenick2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="230" height="344" /></span>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just a normal guy that&rsquo;s on a team that&rsquo;s full of talent, and that&rsquo;s a fun atmosphere for me to be in. I&rsquo;m really enjoying it.&rdquo;</p>
<p>As Roenick has enjoyed a season of rebirth and rejuvenation, Wilson says that he is &ldquo;not surprised at all by what he&rsquo;s done on the ice, but I am a bit surprised by how peaceful he is.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;He plays with his heart on his sleeve, which has also gotten him into trouble in the past,&rdquo; says Wilson. &ldquo;When you&rsquo;re happy, good things happen in your life, it shows up on the ice.&rdquo;</p>
<p>As he looks back on his illustrious and often colorful career, Roenick thinks that his legacy in the hockey world will be a positive one. </p>
<p>&ldquo;Myself, [Mike] Modano, [Keith] Tkachuk, [Brian] Leetch, guys of this nature, we built a new image for American hockey,&rdquo; he says.</p>
<p>When Team USA won Olympic Gold in 1980, it inspired JR and many others to want to be an Olympic and professional athlete. He is hoping to inspire future generations of American <br />athletes.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The Patrick Kanes, the (Joe) Pavelskis, the guys that are really coming up in the league now are going to help build that tradition that we have worked so hard for the last 20 years to make so good and to get respect out of the world of hockey,&rdquo; Roenick says.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are now being known as a powerhouse for the last 15 years, and that&rsquo;s due a lot to the guys who are now skating out of the NHL and making way for the new group.&rdquo; J</p>
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Issue:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/issue/2008-01">2008-01</a> </div>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-01/way-san-jose-jeremy-roenick#commentsJeremy RoenickSan Jose SharksFeatureTue, 08 Mar 2011 22:15:24 +0000admin4323 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comMatt Carlehttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-03/matt-carle
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Carle Breaks the Mold of a Young Star </div>
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/lindsey-boone">Lindsey Boone </a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0803-Matt-Carle.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="525" height="404" /></span></p>
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<p>Matt Carle is a man of many talents. He is a National&nbsp; Team Development Program alumnus, former USHL Defenseman of the Year, Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner and an NHL defenseman.</p>
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<h3 class="feature_headline_smaller">Matt Carle<br /></h3>
<h3 class="feature_headline_smaller"><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/amstarMatt-Carle-Mug.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="180" height="185" /></span><br /></h3>
<p class="textlinkblack"><strong>DEFENSEMAN</strong><br /><strong>Shoots:</strong> Left<br /><strong>Hometown:</strong> Anchorage<br /><strong>Height:</strong> 6-foot-0<br /><strong>Weight:</strong> 205 pounds <br /><strong>Birthdate: </strong>Sept. 25, 1984 <br /><strong>College:</strong> University of Denver<br /><strong>NHL Draft: </strong>Selected in the 2nd round (47th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks</p>
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<p>He is also a 23-year-old Alaska native who likes to head north every summer to return to his roots. </p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very proud of where I came from. Everyone who is from there just loves to go back. It&rsquo;s a really laid- back atmosphere and everyone&rsquo;s really down to earth,&rdquo; says Anchorage&rsquo;s latest son to break into the NHL.</p>
<p>Carle has traveled a long road from his beginnings in the great north. He spent two years developing his game at the NTDP, a place where he &ldquo;developed a lot of friendships and relationships that I still have today.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Because of his late birthday, Carle was left with an entire academic year to complete when his friends aged out of the NTDP. So he headed to Omaha, Neb. to play for the River City Lancers of the USHL during his senior year of high school. </p>
<p>At the tender age of 18, Carle trekked to the Mile High City of Denver to raise his game to new heights while playing for the University of Denver Pioneers. His three-year stint culminated in his junior year when he was named both the WCHA Player of the Year and recipient of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.</p>
<p>The San Jose Sharks knew the mobile Carle was a force to be reckoned with when they drafted him in 2003. But after the success of his breakout season in Denver, the Sharks were through waiting for their young prodigy to wrap up his college career. They signed him to the entry-level maximum of $4.1 million in exchange for him giving up his senior year of college.</p>
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<h2>"I&rsquo;m very proud of where I came from. Everyone who is from there just loves to go back."</h2>
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<p>The course of study that Carle left behind for the NHL was one that will continue to serve him as he makes his way through the ranks of the big times. As a real estate major at DU, Carle learned how to watch markets and pounce on investment opportunities like loose pucks. </p>
<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s something I still take interest in, even when I&rsquo;m playing,&rdquo; he says.</p>
<p>While Carle is the first to admit he is living a childhood dream, the physical side of playing in the NHL has been no cakewalk. The jump from 40 games per year to 82 is a challenge for even the most well conditioned athlete.&nbsp; </p>
<p>&ldquo;You understand when you come in how many games you are going to have to step up to from playing college hockey, but you can&rsquo;t really prepare for that unless you&rsquo;ve been through it,&rdquo; he admits.</p>
<p>As he wraps up his second full season in San Jose, Carle keeps his focus on helping the Sharks win its first Stanley Cup. If he continues on his current path, there&rsquo;s little doubt that his game will continue to shine brighter than the Northern Lights in the skies of his home state.</p>
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<h6>photo by Getty Images</h6>
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Issue:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/issue/2008-03">2008-03</a> </div>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-03/matt-carle#commentsMatt CarleSan Jose SharksUniversity of DenverNext American StarThu, 23 Jul 2009 21:09:00 +00001196 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comBessone Set A Shining Examplehttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-06/bessone-set-shining-example
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/node/12">Harry Thompson</a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0807-Bessone-1.img_assist_custom-375x473.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-375x473 " width="375" height="473" /></span>When it comes to college hockey, no coaching position has bigger shoes to fill than the top job at Michigan State University.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />Current head coach Rick Comley has been in charge of the Spartans for five seasons, and he still has a long way to go to catch up to Ron Mason, who is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Div. I hockey.</p>
<p>But it was legendary coach Amo Bessone who set the standard not only for future Spartans bench bosses but college coaches in general.</p>
<p>Born on Cape Cod, Bessone grew up in Springfield, Mass., where he learned to play hockey. After attending prep school in Maine, Bessone played college hockey at the University of Illinois under legendary coach Vic Hilfiger.<br />From there it was on to a minor league career, which was interrupted by military service in World War II.</p>
<p>When Bessone arrived at Michigan State in 1951, the ice hockey program was just beginning its third season and coming off an unimpressive 6-25 record over two seasons. Under Bessone&rsquo;s watchful eye, the Spartans continued to struggle with six losing seasons before a reversal of fortune in year seven.</p>
<p>During the 1957-08 campaign Bessone guided MSU to a Big Ten championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament. The following season the Spartans lost the 1959 national championship game in overtime to North Dakota. </p>
<p>Six years later, Bessone would bring a team back to the title game, and this time the underdog Spartans shocked Clarkson, 6-1, to win the program&rsquo;s first national championship.</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/History_Heros-Amo-Bessone.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="252" height="207" /></span>The national title and the Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year Award, which he shared with Boston College&rsquo;s Len Ceglarski, cemented Bessone&rsquo;s legacy as a coach. </p>
<p>Bessone announced his retirement after the 1978-79 season, finishing with a career coaching mark of 367-427-20. </p>
<p>To this day, Bessone&rsquo;s legacy extends beyond the Spartans&rsquo; campus. He helped establish the Greater Lansing Area Hockey Association, donating used equipment and encouraging his players to volunteer as coaches. GLAHA started with three players in 1953 and by Bessone&rsquo;s retirement from coaching in 1979, the organization boasted 450 players, including the Miller clan, which went on to fame in the college ranks as well as the NHL.</p>
<p>For his efforts in establishing GLAHA, Bessone received the first John MacInnes Award in 1983, which is given out by the American Hockey Coaches Association.</p>
<p>Today there are several Amo Bessone Awards presented, including one given to the top high school player in Western Massachusetts.</p>
<p>In 1992, Bessone was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. He currently lives in New Mexico with his son, John.</p>
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<h3><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0807-Al-Iafrate.img_assist_custom-250x313.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-250x313 " width="250" height="313" /></span>WHERE ARE THEY NOW?</h3>
<p><strong>Al Iafrate</strong></p>
<p>Known for a booming shot and colorful personality, Al Iafrate was one of the most dynamic defensemen of his generation.</p>
<p>The Dearborn, Mich., native played 12 seasons in the NHL, including a breakout year offensively in which he scored 25 goals with the Washington Capitals in 1992-93.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />He retired after the 1998 season and began to impart his knowledge to the next generation of youth players in the Michigan area.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I feel I have an obligation to pass along all the knowledge I have developed and learned over the years,&rdquo; said Iafrate, a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team.</p>
<p>These days Iafrate works with Warrior Sports, helping the upstart company gain a loyal following in the ultra-competitive hockey stick and glove business.</p>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0807-Bessone-1.img_assist_custom-375x473_0.thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-thumbnail " width="79" height="100" /></span></p>
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Issue:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/issue/2008-06">2008-06</a> </div>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-06/bessone-set-shining-example#commentsAl IafrateAmo BessoneMichigan State UniversityRick ComleySan Jose SharksHistory and HeroesTue, 21 Jul 2009 20:06:43 +00001094 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comNick Petreckihttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-08/nick-petrecki
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Petrecki Keeps Eagle-Eye On the Future </div>
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/roman-j-uschak">Roman J. Uschak</a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://www.ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0808-Nick-Petrecki.img_assist_custom-325x420.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-325x420 " width="325" height="420" /></span>You can call Boston College defenseman Nick Petrecki many things. Big. Strong. Skilled. Hard-hitting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />Now you can also call him a national champion after the Clifton Park, N.Y., native helped the Eagles to its third-ever NCAA title following two straight second-place finishes.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;A big part was helping get the seniors a win they never had,&rdquo; said Petrecki, who provided steady play and punishing hits in BC&rsquo;s nine-game winning streak to end the season. &ldquo;There was a lot of emotion, and it was just incredible.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />Petrecki, 19, finished his freshman campaign with five goals, 12 points and a team-high 102 penalty minutes in 43 contests. A 2007 first-round draft choice (28th overall) of the San Jose Sharks, he first helped BC to the Beanpot Tournament title in February by scoring his first two career collegiate goals in a 6-5 win over Harvard, including the overtime game-winner that was highlighted on ESPN&rsquo;s SportsCenter.</p>
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<h3 class="feature_headline_smaller">Nick Petrcki<br /></h3>
<h3 class="feature_headline_smaller"><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/Next-American-Hockey-Star-Jeff-Finger-Mug.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="180" height="185" /></span><br /></h3>
<p class="textlinkblack"><strong>DEFENSEMAN</strong><br /><strong>Shoots:</strong> Left<br /><strong>Hometown:</strong> Clifton Park, N.Y.<br /><strong>Height:</strong> 6-foot-3<br /><strong>Weight:</strong> 215 pounds <br /><strong>Birthdate:</strong> July 11, 1989&nbsp; <br /><strong>Jr. Team: </strong>Omaha Lancers (USHL)<br /><strong>NHL Draft: </strong>Selected in the 1st round (28th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks.</p>
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<p>Never mind that he closed his eyes just before rifling a rebound into the back of the Crimson cage to end it.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It was more luck than anything,&rdquo; said the 6-foot-3, 215-pound blueliner. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want to miss that one.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />He later tallied BC&rsquo;s first goal in a 4-3 come-from-behind overtime victory over Miami (Ohio) in the NCAA Regionals, two games before the Eagles claimed its second national crown in eight seasons with a 4-1 victory over Notre Dame.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;He just got better and better, and has the ability to add more of an offensive dimension to his game,&rdquo; said BC Assistant Coach and former defenseman Greg Brown. &ldquo;He has a knack for finding a seam when we need it.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Petrecki earned a host of Junior hockey accolades, first close to home with the Capital District Selects, and later in the Midwest with the renowned Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League, before ultimately fulfilling a boyhood dream by suiting up for Boston College.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I knew I wanted to play in one of the big leagues, and I always wanted to go to BC and play in the Beanpot,&rdquo; said Petrecki, who regularly attended that tournament while growing up. &ldquo;I also asked myself where I would have the best chance to win a national championship, and BC is only three hours from home.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Petrecki started skating at 4 years old and later played for his father, who moved him back to the blueline.</p>
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<h2>"He just got better and better, and has the ability to add more of an offensive dimension to his game."</h2>
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<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve played defense since my first year of Mites, when there weren&rsquo;t enough defensemen,&rdquo; said Petrecki. &ldquo;I was always one of the bigger and stronger kids, and it also made me a better skater.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />He&rsquo;s also had three medal-winning stints internationally. Petrecki collected gold in the 2005 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Switzerland, followed the next year by a silver-medal finish in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic, and a bronze-medal performance at the Viking Cup in Alberta.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Those were a lot of fun,&rdquo; he recalled. &ldquo;I had great coaches, and it was great competition.&rdquo;</p>
<p>He&rsquo;d like to play in both the Olympics and the NHL in the future, but right now Petrecki remains focused on his college career.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;They [San Jose] have stayed in contact, but they&rsquo;ve given me space, and that&rsquo;s really nice,&rdquo; said Petrecki, who received a congratulatory phone call from the Sharks after BC won the NCAA title. </p>
<p>He took some time off in June to help his father with his masonry business before going back to Beantown to prepare for next year.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a few years left,&rdquo; said Petrecki, who refuses to rest on last season&rsquo;s successes. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s still a lot of work to do.&rdquo; </p>
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<h6>photo by Getty Images</h6>
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Issue:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/issue/2008-08">2008-08</a> </div>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-08/nick-petrecki#commentsNick PetreckiSan Jose SharksNext American StarTue, 21 Jul 2009 16:32:02 +00001036 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comRoenick’s Prescriptionhttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-09/roenick%E2%80%99s-prescription
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When It Comes To Concussions, NHL Veteran Is The Voice Of Experience And Reason </div>
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/node/55">Ricki Dugdale</a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0809-feat-roenik.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="525" height="350" /></span></p>
<p>As a seasoned NHL player, Jeremy Roenick has experienced more than his fair share of concussions &mdash; at least 11 since he was 11-years-old &mdash; and he knows that they are no picnic in the park. He also knows that his next one could be his last.</p>
<p>He remembers one time when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks being knocked out during a game in Minnesota and waking up in the training room with no idea how he got there, and then playing the very next night.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;They let me play &hellip; within a 24-hour span without any question of how I felt,&rdquo; recalls the 38-year-old Roenick. &ldquo;Nowadays they sit you out for at least a week.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Hockey has made great strides when it comes to diagnosing and treating concussions. But, as Roenick points out, there is still a long way to go.</p>
<p>It starts with changing the mindset that playing through the hazy pain of a concussion is the macho thing to do. Acting like the tough guy when it comes to concussions only makes the injury worse. As a tough guy himself, Roenick can attest that rest is the only way to combat the effects of a concussion.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;Just to relax and not to do anything for about seven to 10 days,&rdquo; says Roenick, who is preparing for his 20th NHL season and second with the San Jose Sharks. </p>
<p><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0809-feat-hale.jpg" alt="Even after so many concussions, Jeremy Roenick still plays a physical game." title="Even after so many concussions, Jeremy Roenick still plays a physical game." class="image image-_original " width="525" height="388" /><span class="caption" style="width: 523px;">Even after so many concussions, Jeremy Roenick still plays a physical game.</span></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do anything that could raise your blood pressure. You don&rsquo;t want to have a situation where you&rsquo;re going to have a lot of blood that&rsquo;s rushing into your brain when you&rsquo;ve had trauma like that. The least amount of activity that you can do after is good.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />With more than 1,300 NHL games under his belt, Roenick knows how tough it is to watch the game from the sidelines, but it&rsquo;s better than living with the symptoms of a concussion.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s amazing what your brain can do to your body when it gets injured,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;As soon as your blood pressure gets going you become nauseous and start throwing up. It&rsquo;s a terrible feeling to go through.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />While today&rsquo;s equipment provides players with greater protection, the risk of injury remains in hockey, as it does with other contact sports. In the end, using your brain is still the best way of keeping it safe.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;The more you can do to prevent yourself from&nbsp; damage, from the protection of your helmet, wearing a mouthpiece and being very aware of what you&rsquo;re doing on the ice, the better,&rdquo; advises Roenick.</p>
<p>Educating players, parents and coaches about the serious effects of concussions remains a main goal for those involved in the sport. No longer are players told to shake it off and get back in the game. That old way of thinking not only jeopardizes a player&rsquo;s career, but his life away from hockey as well.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I think about it a lot. It&rsquo;s always in the back of my mind,&rdquo; Roenick says. &ldquo;I am very cautious about where I put my body. </p>
<p>&ldquo;Because with the number of head injuries that I&rsquo;ve had, you never know when that next one might be the killer.&rdquo; </p>
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<h2>Hit The Flu With Your Best Shot</h2>
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<h5><em>By Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber</em></h5>
<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/0809-flu-&amp;-cold.img_assist_custom-300x282.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-300x282 " width="300" height="282" /></span>Coaches are always preaching the importance of teamwork. There is one pass, however, that you don&rsquo;t want to make to a teammate, and that&rsquo;s passing along the flu bug to the player sitting in the locker stall next to you.</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s almost a sure bet that if one of your teammates comes down with the flu, others will pick it up like a loose puck in the neutral zone. Then, it will tear through your locker room like Jaromir Jagr stickhandling through a Squirt team.</p>
<p>Hockey and the flu have similar seasons. Both begin in October and last through the end of March, with tens of millions getting the virus, and more than 36,000 people dying from flu complications every year.</p>
<p>The flu is a virus and by the time you know one player is sick, the rest have most likely been exposed. It is possible to have player after player be out over a period of weeks, which can take its toll on your season. </p>
<p>The flu strikes quickly. You can wake up feeling OK and over the next few hours, you get a high fever, your face feels flushed and every muscle in your body aches. You get chills, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and occasionally, you will have dizziness and vomiting.</p>
<p>After those first few miserable days the body aches get better but the virus isn&rsquo;t going away. It is just finding a place to settle. As it progresses, you start feeling the symptoms of a cold. Sore throat, earache, cough, runny nose, and the sneezing start up. </p>
<p>It usually runs its course in about two weeks, but the cough can hang on like an unwelcomed houseguest. It can take up to four weeks to get your strength back.</p>
<p>One way to make sure your team has the best possibility of winning is to make sure they all get the flu vaccine. This is one give-and-go you don&rsquo;t want your team to practice.</p>
<p><em>Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber is a hockey mom of three who is also an adolescent medicine physician at the Indiana University School of Medicine.</em></p>
<h6>Photos - Getty Images, Illustration - Mike Curti</h6>
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<a href="/issue/2008-09">2008-09</a> </div>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-09/roenick%E2%80%99s-prescription#commentsconcussionshockey injurieshockey padsJeremy RoenickSan Jose SharksFeatureMon, 20 Jul 2009 15:42:15 +0000988 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comPavelski Brings Winning Ways To San Josehttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2009-01/pavelski-brings-winning-ways-san-jose
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By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/node/39">Craig Stancher</a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/amstar-Joe-Pavelski_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="209" height="363" /></span>Wherever Joe Pavelski goes, championships seem to follow. The third-year NHL forward has experienced team and personal success at every level he&rsquo;s played, earning himself a track record as a player who simply does what it takes to help his team win.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />The Plover, Wis., native earned a state championship at Stevens Point Area Senior High, and captured the Clark Cup with the Waterloo Black Hawks in 2004 while being named USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then led the University of Wisconsin to its sixth national championship in 2006 while leading the team in scoring.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />Now, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound center is cutting his teeth with the NHL&rsquo;s San Jose Sharks, and it may only be a matter of time before he pads his already impressive r&eacute;sum&eacute;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>Pavelski is playing under first-year head coach Todd McLellan on a tough Sharks squad considered to be one of the favorites to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in a loaded Western Conference.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had some great coaches along the way, played with some great players and been fortunate enough to have a great goalie on every team,&rdquo; said Pavelski. </p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m on another good team here and now it&rsquo;s up to me and the guys to figure out how to win, and win in the postseason.&rdquo;</p>
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<h3 class="feature_headline_smaller">Joe Pavelski<br /></h3>
<h3 class="feature_headline_smaller"><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/amstar-Joe-Pavelski-mug_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="180" height="185" /></span><br /></h3>
<p class="textlinkblack"><strong>CENTER</strong><br /><strong>Hometown:</strong> Plover, Wis.<br /><strong>Height:</strong> 5-foot-11<br /><strong>Weight: </strong>195 pounds <br /><strong>Shoots:</strong> Right<br /><strong>Birthdate:</strong> July 11, 1984 <br /><strong>U.S. College:</strong> University of Wisconsin<br /><strong>NHL Draft:</strong> Selected in the 7th round (205th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by San Jose <br /><strong>Did You Know:</strong> Joe played&nbsp; for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.</p>
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<p>Pavelski jumped on the fast track to NHL success during his rookie year of 2006-07, notching a goal in his first contest with San Jose after being promoted from the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League. He then solidified his status as a mainstay on San Jose&rsquo;s roster by scoring in four of his first five NHL games.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;Any time you can do something special like that &ndash; scoring in your first game &ndash; it&rsquo;s a great feeling,&rdquo; said Pavelski. &ldquo;The biggest thing is getting off to a good start. You&rsquo;re a young guy, who just got called up from the American League, so you really want to make a good impression and score a few goals. It helped me earn a spot on the team and gave them the confidence to play me a little more.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />It&rsquo;s no surprise that Pavelski and winning seem to go hand-in-hand. Not only does the center put up points, but he also does the little things coaches love. &nbsp; </p>
<p>Whether it&rsquo;s winning faceoffs or just playing aggressive defense (he tied for 12th among NHL forwards with 59 blocked shots in 2007-08), Pavelski takes pride in possessing a well-rounded game. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&ldquo;Those are the things you have to do every day to keep your spot in the lineup,&rdquo; said Pavelski. &ldquo;When you&rsquo;re doing the little things, it gets you in the game and shows your teammates that you&rsquo;re ready to play. Each of those aspects is part of the process.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />And what a lot of young hockey players often can&rsquo;t grasp is that those &ldquo;little things&rdquo; frequently lead to big scoring chances on the other end of the ice. According to Pavelski, the best players in the NHL attained that status through an attention to detail on the ice.</p>
<p>&ldquo;What people don&rsquo;t realize is that some of the top players do the small things better than anyone else,&rdquo; said Pavelski. &ldquo;Those players complete their passes, which lead to goals, and they back-check hard to stop the opposition from scoring. </p>
<p>&ldquo;If you want to be successful, you have to focus on all aspects of your game.&rdquo; </p>
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<h6>photo - Getty Images</h6>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2009-01/pavelski-brings-winning-ways-san-jose#commentsJoe PavelskiSan Jose SharksWisconsinNext American StarFri, 26 Jun 2009 19:06:53 +0000784 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.comImproving Your Speedhttp://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-08/improving-your-speed
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With Bill Guerin of the San Jose Sharks </div>
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<a href="/node/99">USA Hockey Magazine</a> </div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/tips_Bill-Guerin.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="190" height="172" /></span>Skating is like anything else &mdash; the more you practice, the better you&rsquo;ll be. If you&rsquo;re not that great a skater, there are drills and exercises that can help you improve. When I was a kid, I had a rink in my backyard, so I skated all the time. That had a lot to do with my development.</p>
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<h3>Tip #1<br /><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/tips0705_1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="380" height="292" /></span></h3>
<p>There is a difference between quickness and speed. I&rsquo;ve heard it said that quickness is first gear but speed is the second, third and fourth gears. Quickness is that first few steps, speed is for the long haul. There are drills you can do to practice both.</p>
<h3>Tip #2<br /><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/tips0705_2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="380" height="307" /></span></h3>
<p>Improve your skating technique and you&rsquo;ll improve your speed. That means learning proper use of edges, staying low with knees bent and getting the full extension in each stride for maximum power.</p>
<h3>Tip #3</h3>
<p>When you&rsquo;re doing on-ice skating drills, start slow and work your way up. Doing drills right is more important than doing them quickly. Using an improper technique quickly means you&rsquo;ll go nowhere faster.</p>
<h3>Tip #4<br /><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/tips0705_4.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="380" height="274" /></span></h3>
<p>Off-ice plyometric drills like squats, jumps and sprints are equally important for improving your overall speed. Once again, remember to start slow and work your way up. Don&rsquo;t be afraid to challenge and push yourself.</p>
<h3>Remember This &hellip;</h3>
<p>Some people think that speed is a God-given talent, and they may be right. But you can definitely improve on your speed with hard work and practice. As pros, we try to improve on our skills each and every day, but especially in the summer months by working out with teammates or personal trainers.</p>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/tips_Bill-Guerin.img_assist_custom-95x86.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-95x86 " width="95" height="86" /></span></p>
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Issue:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/issue/2008-08">2008-08</a> </div>
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http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2008-08/improving-your-speed#commentsBill GuerinHockey tipsSan Jose Sharksskating speedTips from the StarsSun, 03 Aug 2008 19:03:49 +0000627 at http://www.usahockeymagazine.com